Winter Leagues Coverage | Update on La Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

(Photo Credit: Yamaira Muñiz via Twitter)

     Due to the significant damage sustained across the entirety of the island of Puerto Rico, the LBPRC Board of Directors have agreed to a an abbreviated itinerary for the 2017-2018 winter league season.

     According to league President Héctor Rivera Cruz during a press conference, the season will no longer begin on November 15th, 2017 as previously scheduled. Instead, league play will now begin on January 6th, 2018 as a 21 game schedule. Teams will play single games on Thursdays and Fridays at 1:30 PM, and 7 inning doubleheaders on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 1:00 PM with the 2nd game starting twenty minutes after the first. Due to significant damage to Roberto Clemente Stadium, the Gigantes De Carolina will not play this season.

    The team that finishes in 1st place will gain an automatic spot into the championship game. The teams that finish 2nd and 3rd will participate in a one game sudden death with the winner moving on to play the 1st place team. All games will be played during the day in order to limit the amount of power draw that each game requires as to not interrupt recovery efforts. In addition, all games will be FREE to the public as a way to give back to the community. Under this abbreviated schedule, the league is expected to finish either January 30th or 31st, 2018.

     Due to the significant late start to the season and the fact that the other 3 Caribbean League regular seasons will already be completed, players committed to Puerto Rico based teams will be allowed to play in other Caribbean leagues, but will be required to return by January 1st. In addition, they will only be able to participate for Team Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series once it begins on February 2nd, 2018.

   Mets Players who will be affected by this situation include, but are not limited to, Chasen Bradford, Phillip Evans, Nabil Crismatt, T.J. Rivera, and Seth Lugo.

The Keepers - #9 - SS - Phillip Evans

9.        SS      Phillip Evans

8-15-11: - Just love this signing. Evans went into draft day as a solid non-signee and every team avoided him. I had him as the 4th top shortstop in the draft. Scouts project him as a second baseman, but he also can catch.

 7-8-11: - At the just completed  18u WWBA National Championship… SS Phillip Evans (2011 La Costa Canyon HS, Carlsbad, CA) earned tournament MVP honors after going 9-for-22 (.409/.458/.500) with 7 RBIs and 3 SBs .

9-24-11 Interview: -

Mack:    Morning, folks.  We're talking this morning to the 2011 15th round draft pick out of La Costa Canyon (Ca.) High School.  Welcome Phillip and what a pleasure it is to have you a part of the New York Mets.

Phillip: Thanks Mack, I'm glad to have been given the chance to be a part of the New York Mets organization.

Mack:   Okay, I have to ask you the same question I ask all you bonus babies.  What's the first thing you bought when you cashed the check?

Phillip:   I actually haven't gotten my bonus check yet but I'm sure I will buy some nice things for my family once I get it.

Mack:  Phillip (is it Phil, or Phillip?), just for the record, 80% say the first thing bought is a new truck.  You sent all the signs out that you were not going to sign so being drafted late was, I'm sure, not exciting as it could be... but, take us to that day and tell us what it what it was like hearing your name come over the internet site.

Phillip:  I like Phillip but if somebody calls me Phil that's fine with me. I just want to give back to my family since they gave me the opportunity to play ball since I was 4 years old, I'm sure I will buy myself something nicer than a truck eventually ha ha. It was still just as exciting for me hearing my name called as I was given the chance to play pro ball for a great organization

Mack:  So, let's get to the next great moment and that would be your first professional at bat. Was your family there and how did that moment go?

Phillip:  My family was not there but I just treated it like any other at bat saw a lot of pitches and walked.

Mack:  Okay...  Phillip, I have been tracking you for a couple of years now and had you as the 3rd top middle infielder in the draft.   There has been some scouts that project you as a future second baseman.  I'm sure you would say you would play any position it takes to get to the majors, but I'm just curious, other than shortstop, what positions have you played, and played well?

Phillip:  Yeah, I'm pretty sure anybody would play any position to get to the big leagues but I can play anywhere on the field well so wherever they end up putting me I'll play that position hard day in and day out.

Mack:  Last question, Phillip.  First of all I want to thank you for spending some time here with me.   I wanted to see if there is anything you want to say to your fans that read Mack's Mets...

Phillip:  Anytime. Thanks for having me Mack.  I would like to thank all the fans out there and keep supporting throughout the years and hopefully all the hard work I'm putting in will give me an opportunity in the big leagues one day.

Mets: Brad Holt, Brandon Nimmo, Johan Santana, Phillip Evans

1-23-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/23/2693134/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects   #50) RHP Brad Holt - The '08 supplemental pick and former top prospect is now a shadow of the dominant pitcher who streaked through A-ball over three years ago. 2011 saw the 25-yr old continue to struggle in Double-A before making a full-time move into relief in mid-June. And his splits (Starting ERA: 5.04 | Relief ERA: 4.09) indicate that he didn't see a huge improvement. Now his peripherals do provide some hope -- his troublesome BB/9 dropped by over two full points in relief while his 5.8 K/9 skyrocketed to 9.5. And after allowing an opponent's average of .336 in 2010, he held Eastern League hitters to an anemic .197 as a reliever, though the .242 BABIP isn't a great sign. But what that means is that -- as many scouts insist -- his stuff is still decent. The problem is that he's still not throwing enough strikes to take advantage of it. If he can continue to improve in that aspect he may still have a chance as a middle reliever, but at this point -- in the midst of a serious long-term decline -- even that's a long shot

1-27-12: -  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6509  4 . OF Brandon Nimmo -Baseball-Reference Player Profile - The 6-3/185 left handed hitting Wyoming native certainly had all the physical tools and profile for being the 13th pick in the 2011 draft, where the Mets signed him to a $2.1M bonus. Nimmo was a star football wide receiver and state sprint champion in high school and should maintain his plus speed as a centerfielder even as he fills out and gets stronger. The big question for scouts all spring was about whether they could truly evaluate Nimmo’s bat potential considering his lack of repetitions and high level competition compared to most high school hitters around the country. Two veteran scouts made very telling comments to me late in the spring that convinced me that Nimmo was indeed going to be a very high pick. One said something to the effect of, “We are getting all excited and giving tons of money to young Latin players who have far less in the way of hitting background than this kid. Put Nimmo down in the Dominican Republic and see what scouts think. You’ll see his athleticism and you’ll see his projection and then you’ll really, really see his bat. Everything would stand out about him even down there where we think the kids are raw skilled.”  The other was a cynic at the start of the spring but told me in late May, “I saw him late in Arizona, I’ve seen him play in Wyoming, I’ve seen him play in South Dakota. I looked for every reason I could not to like his swing and his bat but I just couldn’t find it. He’s sold me, I’d take him with our first round pick without hesitation.”

The Mets begging workers got a major struck with the loss of their most complete basic Johan Santana, without acquiring him for almost all of the this season, will truly harm their chances of being a consider the Far east. With the loss of Santana the Mets will want massive conditions out of people like 3rd r.A. Dickey and Scott Pelfrey, who determine to enjoy spinning that is lacking in legend power. Pelfrey moved 15-9 by using a 3.66 ERA this past year, and Dickey moved 11-9 with a good 2.84 ERA, however, for both of these to generate a massive affect that they need the wrongdoing to get a lot better than it was last year. The the other 3 people while in the spinning could big surprise together with the little hands of Jonathon Niese and Dillon Wow, plus by adding Chelsea Capuano, who came back soon after losing most of 2009 and 2008 to look 4-4 by using a 3.59 ERA together with the Milwaukee. If these 3 hands are better than expected last year, Nyc will continue to have a spinning that could compete. http://www.watthai.net/?p=994

Earlier this week, I was fortunate enough to speak with New York Mets prospect Phillip Evans. Evans was drafted by the Mets in the 15th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft out of La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad, California. The shortstop was ranked as high as No. 55 on Keith Law’s Top 100 list before the draft and was considered to be one of the top middle infielders available. Because of his strong commitment to San Diego State, the Mets were able to select Evans in round fifteen. He signed for $650,000, which became the highest bonus ever paid by the Mets to a player taken outside of the first two rounds. http://7traintoshea.com/?p=7320

Mets: Phillip Evans, Lucas May, Andre Torres, Danny Muno

1-30-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/30/2757346/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-21-30  SS Phillip Evans - Speaking of draft steals, the Mets plucked this top round talent in the 15th round due to signablilty concerns based on a perceived strong commitment to SDSU -- ultimately inking him for $600k. The 19-yr old Cali kid is considered very advanced/polished for a high school product. He already shows a good idea of the strike zone while featuring very quick hands and a nice compact swing from the right side. In addition, his excellent athleticism and very strong arm give him every chance to stick at short long-term and though he's not quite a burner, he has the kind of quickness to take 15-20 bags a year. He's also been lauded for his high character and work ethic.  Now some feel that as he adds bulk to his already study frame (185lbs) he'll be forced to move to second base. His power has also come into question as he's listed at just 5'10" and for anyone who got to see him in his brief time with Brooklyn he looks even smaller in person. However, he's got some nice natural loft to his swing and he absolutely knows how to pull a ball. I've got to say that so much about Evans screams out Dustin Pedroia to me: Smallish infielder out of Cali, good strength/athleticism, excellent pull-side power, good quickness, great makeup. And while it's hard to project anyone to an MVP-level, I could definitely see Evans ceiling as a 20/20-type, with the requisite disclaimer about any and all high school players currently being worlds away from that ceiling.

• Dec 13: C Lucas May - The 27-yr old May is another righty-hitting backstop who will likely be attempting to dethrone Mike Nickeas as the primary backup this spring. However, after bottoming out with a .238 average in Triple-A in 2011, he's likely to begin in that same role in Buffalo. May was never much of a prospect however he has shown some good pop for a catcher, once knocking 25 homers in a season and thrice surpassing 15. Like Rottino he has just 39 major league pa's, batting .189 in that time. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents

Andres Torres (OF): In 1998, Torres hit .234 with 1 HR and 21 RBI in 48 games with Jamestown in his first professional season. Torres was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 4th round of the 1998 MLB amateur draft out of Miami Dade College (Miami, Florida). Torres has played in 415 career regular season games over seven seasons, as a member of the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants. He is currently a member of the New York Mets after being traded by the Giants in December 2011. http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/01/31/3385/

2-1-12 - Muno had a really strong professional debut, smacking around New York-Penn League pitching at a .355/.466/.514 clip at age 22. He’ll head to 2012 as a 23-year old on Opening Day with the clock ticking loudly. Muno played shortstop and third base in college, but the Mets had him play all but two games at shortstop in the New York Penn League. His arm is strong enough for either position, but he’ll need to prove that he has the range to play shortstop everyday as a professional. If he can’t play shortstop every day, he could carve out a career as a versatile backup infielder or perhaps a third baseman. He does not have the power to profile as a classic third baseman.  However, third base is in transition, and 2011 was a down year for the position as MLBers hit just .252/.317/.390 at third, essentially equal to second basemen. http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/36-ss-danny-muno/

Mets: Matt Tuiasosopo, Phillip Evans, Josh Edgin, Cam Maron

• Jan 27: Matt Tuiasosopo - Going back to our theme of former top prospects, the Mets signed the '04 third rounder and longtime Mariners prospect just last week. Puget Sound's favorite son signed with his hometown team out of high school and ranked very highly on prospect lists for his outstanding athleticism alone. However, unfortunately his amazing raw tools just didn't translate as he was never able to develop the kind of offensive game to profile as major leaguer. In parts of three seasons with Seattle between '08 and '10, he batted just .176 with 5 homers. Even as a minor leaguer he only managed a .263/.359/.405 triple-slash, while playing so-so defense at third. He's pretty much a sure-bet to play most of his 2011 with Buffalo as he's already a few slots down on the organization's third base pecking order. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/31/2753903/taking-inventory-of-the-mets-minor-league-free-agents

1-27-12: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6509  7. SS Phillip Evans - Baseball-Reference player profile - The Mets went way out of slot to sign Evans, giving him $650,000 in the 15th round, the third highest bonus they paid to any player, and over $200,000 more than second round pick RHP Cory Mazzoni. The 5-10/185 Evans is a prototypical Southern California middle infielder in many ways and a right handed hitting version of Tony Wolters, the Indians third round pick in 2010 who received a $1.35M signing bonus. A 2010 PG/Aflac All-American, Evans doesn’t have a true plus run or throw tool, as he’s a 6.9 to 7.0 runner with arm strength that is playable for shortstop and very good for second base. But he is an exceptionally polished and instinctive player both offensively and defensively, although his defense is what will likely get him to the big leagues. Evans also has the type of make up that will make him an extra coach on teams with younger players. Although whether he ever ends up with younger players is doubtful, as the Mets moved him through all three of their short season teams despite his signing close to the deadline.

1-30-12 - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/1/30/2757346/2012-amazin-avenue-top-50-mets-prospects-21-30  LHP Josh Edgin - Another lefty reliever, Edgin put his name on the map in 2011 with a definite breakout campaign. After reeling off an incredible run at Lo-A Savannah where he didn't allow a run seemingly for the entire first half, the 2010 30th round selection would go on to post an impressive 9.00 K/9 with a .184 opp. average against lefties at Hi-A St. Lucie. Edgin did slow a bit down the stretch -- including an August where he gave up more runs than the rest of his season combined. Though that's not entirely surprising considering he doubled his pro inning count from 2010. At 25, he's also a bit old for A-ball though that's probably due more to wasted time thanks to a collegiate transfer. At 6'1", 225 lbs if Leathersich is sturdy, then Edgin is downright stocky. Ultimately, Edgin's strong low 90's fastball and excellent low 80's slider as well as his solid command are what give him a chance to move fast. Paul DePodesta even hinted that we could potentially see Edgin in Queens in 2012 if things break right. He'll break the season in Bingo and we should know relatively quickly whether or not we're looking at a potential power LOOGY.

1-31-12 – http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/  - Cam Maron is like Josh Thole Jr.  Like Thole in the minors, Maron’s been darn consistent about it. Maron has a short contact-oriented swing to go along with his strong plate eye.  He’ll never hit for much power, and even during batting practice does not look to drive the ball much. Still, he’s a catcher and a chance for plus OBP from the position is really nice. Maron moves well behind the plate, and believes that his blocking is the strongest part of his defensive game, while he still needs to continue to improve his throwing. Also, he gets bonus points for growing up a Mets fan. 2011: At 20 this past year in the Appalachian League, Maron walked more than he struck out. After hitting .318/.434/.413 in 58 games in the Appalachian League, Maron played one regular season game for the Sand Gnats.

Cutnpaste: - Collin McHugh, Phillip Evans, Gil Hodges, Reyes Defense, More Wilpon Woes

None of us (minor leaguers and major leaguers alike) know exactly where we will be when camp breaks April 1, 2012. There are too many variables between now and then to triangulate which city/team/organization we will play for. If we want to continue to play, we have to face that reality. It’s not for the faint of heart, nor the “heavy” lifestyle. For now, we will continue to travel light and hope that we can drop anchor in Queens, NY…sooner rather than later. - Collin McHugh, RHP, New York Mets - http://aflprospects.mlblogs.com

11-7-11: - Phillip Evans makes this list based purely on projection, not on any stats. He has a very advanced skill set that doesn’t really compare to anyone else in the organization. His combination of fielding ability, ability to hit for average, ability to hit with power, and leadership skills grade out as someone who should move quickly through the organization. The idea of him making the big leagues sooner than most other players his age is not that much of a stretch. A true indication should come very early next season, when the Savannah Sand Gnats announce their opening day roster. If it were to include a 19-year-old shortstop named Phil Evans, he could be well on his way in no time. http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-%e2%80%93-14-phillip-evans-ss.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29

The Hodges case itself is filled with close calls- most famously when his supporter Roy Campanella missed a Veterans’ Committee vote due to illness, and Hodges fell a single vote shy. I can’t claim to be unbiased here- my father was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, loved Hodges, and we both belong to the Gil Hodges for the Hall of Fame mailing list. My hope is that this year’s version of the Veterans’ Committee sees it my way. The vote will be held on December 5. Here’s hoping all of Hodges’ supporters are feeling well enough to attend. http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2011/11/07/gil-hodges-for-the-hall-of-fame-you-bet/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mets+%28The+LoHud+Mets+Blog%29

Reyes had -11 Defensive Runs Saved last year, the fifth-worst mark among all MLB shortstops and third-worst in NL. In the previous three years combined, he cost the Mets just three runs with his glove over nearly 3,000 innings. There was a time when Reyes was a statistical standout defensively, but he hasn’t had a positive Runs Saved rating since 2007. http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/30796/jose-reyes-aramis-ramirez-share-flaws

Five years after buying a 30-story West Loop office tower, New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon is facing trouble over a $100-million loan used to finance the acquisition. The securitized loan on the 677,222-square-foot office building at 200 W. Adams St. has been transferred to a special servicer, a firm hired to handle problem loans, according to a report from debt rating agency Standard & Poor’s. The loan comes due Jan. 1, “and the borrower indicated that it will not be able to obtain refinancing proceeds by the maturity date,” according to the S&P report.  http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/article/20111107/CRED03/111109800/ny-mets-owners-firm-in-a-pickle-over-200-w-adams-loan#ixzz1d3mLmL9u

Cutnpaste: - 2012 ZIPS Projections, Jeff Wilpon, Phillip Evans, Jefry Marte, Upton vs. Pagan

2012 ZIPS Projections - New York Mets -  Obviously not a great year for the Mets at 77-85, but if you just went by the tenor of the media reports, thanks to the Wilpon/Madoff turmoil, you'd think the Mets played like the 1993 edition that went 59-103. The team spent most of the year, playing "sort of OK-ish" and while never really in any kind of risk of being relevant, weren't Astrotastic horrible.  The pitching staff is interesting in that while it was one of the worst in the league (the 89 ERA+ was 15th of 16 teams in the National League), it was not because of some notably terrible pitching, but almost an entire staff of guys that had recognizable names, were consistently below-average, but also consistently above replacement level. Perhaps best described as the Sterling Hitchcock Rock 'n' Fun Zone. Beltran is gone from the offense, Reyes is likely to be, and Wright isn't the player he was at his best, so the team's pitching has to get a good bit better as there's less room to count on the front-line talent to score runs. http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle/discussion/2012_zips_projections_-_new_york_mets

It’s a clumsy headline, but “Does Jeff Wilpon Come To Your Job & Knock The Dick Out Of Your Mouth?” didn’t scan nearly as well. I don’t think it would be the most unfair statement of all time to say there’s a slight credibility gap between Mets ownership’s initial assurances L’affair Madoff would have no substantial impact on the ballclub’s day to day operations and the resulting 2011 econo-Amazin’s ; the big name acquisitions were limited to a succession of former GM’s and it wasn’t long before we heard of Fred and Jeff Wilpon going cap in hand to Major League Baseball. Jeff (above) was reluctant to identify the club’s new minority investors earlier this week, not surprising given the way David Einhorn’s attempts to buy into the Mets ended in yet another P.R. disaster. In the considered view of Metsmerized’s Greg Pomes — either the most trusting person in on Planet Earth or a satirist of the highest order — “I know in today’s information age we want to know everything, but this is a non-issue.” http://www.cantstopthebleeding.com/in-jeff-wilpon-we-trust-is-the-mets-coo-answerable-to-anyone

11-3-11: - http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/11/03/2011-mlb-draft-shortstops-review-part-1 - Phillip Evans, SS New York Mets – (18) – Round: 15 Pick: 462 - Here’s a kid who has good make-up and skill set to be an above average major leaguer.  There was a buzz last year that he could be a 1st round draft pick, but after an up and down spring and a firm commitment to play for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State (not far from home in Carlsbad, CA) his stock dropped like a ton of bricks.  I’m not sure he has the range to stick at SS, but after the Mets moved 8th round pick Daniel Muno from SS to 2B, perhaps the Mets feel differently than I do.  Evans was an August 15th deadline signing and kudos to the Mets for getting this done.   Evans hit .294/.351/.412, which included 2B-4/RBI-4/R-7, and a 5/3 K/BB ratio in 34 at bats spread over quick stops at 3 levels, ending up with Muno with the Low-A Brooklyn Cyclones of the New York Penn League and that’s likely where he will start the 2012 season as well.  I think he’s a player to watch. http://baseballinstinct.com/2011/11/03/2011-mlb-draft-shortstops-review-part-1

11-3-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/11/mmo-top-20-mets-prospects-15-jefry-marte-3b.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29  - As a fielder, he’ll never make you think of Brooks Robinson, but there is no reason as of yet to move him off 3B. He charges the ball well, has decent hands and a strong throwing arm. He has problems with his feet going laterally however, and therefore has limited range right now. This can be helped through conditioning and agility work, but as he matures physically and gets thicker, he will have to continue to work hard on this, to remain at the position. The last year he has improved quite a bit in fielding technique, and is not afraid to dive and throw his body around, but where he makes his errors is usually when rushing his throws. Sound familiar? With a continued strong showing in the Arizona Fall League, Jefry Marte could very well force the Mets to promote him to Binghamton for the start of 2012. That would be an incredible accomplishment for a 21-year-old. Again he would be playing against players three years older than himself, but with more and more tools in his tool bag, this hard working ball-player is now better equipped to take on the challenge.

B.J. Upton is younger, generally healthier, and better than Pagan — though not by as much as you’d think. Upton retains some cachet from his days as an uber-prospect, but by WAR he has never had a season as good as Pagan’s 2010. At 27, he’s younger than Pagan and a better bet to play well over the next several years. But Upton is in his last arbitration year with the Rays, meaning he’d have to be non-tendered to become a free-agent (which seems unlikely given his obvious trade value) or the Mets would have to trade something to acquire him. Since Upton is set for free agency next offseason — any team that trades for him would either get only one year of his services or have to broker a negotiating window in which to sign Upton for what will likely be a market-rate extension. http://www.tedquarters.net/2011/11/03/compelling-arguments-for-non-tendering-angel-pagan

Cutnpaste: - Robert Carson, Fernando Martinez, Phillip Evans, Reese Havens, 2012 Bullpen

10-26-11: - http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/colemans-corner-mets-position-players-shining-in-arizona-sun   - Then there’s left-hander Robert Carson. Or as he refers to himself on his Facebook page – Robert “I’mdestinedforgreatness” Carson. Whoa, big fella, dial that one back just a little bit. At Double AA Binghamton this season, Carson went 4-11 with a 5.05 ERA in 24 starts and one relief appearance. He gave up a whopping 154 hits in 128 innings, striking out 91 but walking 55. Not pretty. In Arizona, he’s still giving up too many hits – 10 in 9 1/3 innings – but the numbers are better – a 2.89 ERA in 5 relief appearances.

10-25-11: - http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/2011/10/25/mets-have-precious-few-pieces-to-trade - Fernando Martinez: Had been sought after in previous years, but is a fragile, injury risk whose value has declined. Too bad they can’t turn back the clock two years. If the Mets can swing something with him, they should do it, but his real value to them would be to stay healthy and reach his potential, which is becoming less and less likely.

10-26-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/7132/mets-minors/a-look-into-the-future-top-shortstop-prospects   -  Phillip Evans   DOB: 9/10/1992  Birthplace: Carlsbad, CA  Height: 5’10”   Weight: 185  R/R  -  I’m not going to even talk about his stats because they are irrelevant since he only played 9 games. However, he did reach Brooklyn, something Brandon Nimmo did not do. When the Mets snagged him on the signing deadline day, I remember rejoicing that we did not let him go. He’s practically my age and I’m praising him. His frame is pretty much maxed out at this point. It’s impossible to predict growth spurts, but you never know. Evans reminds me of your classic shortstop, who has potential to hit a few homeruns while being a solid gap hitter. He represented the west coast in the 2010 AFLAC All-American game, where he snagged the MVP honors in front of his hometown fans. According to Replacement Level Baseball, they clocked Evans in high school at 4.1 from home to first, predicting that he can be an “admirable base stealer at the next level”. RLP also said that Evans’ arm could be projected at a 65, well above average on the scouting scale. He’s what you want a high school prospect to look like. It’s not going to take him much time to fit into the system because he has the tools to succeed.

10-26-11: - http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/what-do-the-mets-have-in-reese-havens  - Reese Havens’ health has been his biggest flaw as a player since being drafted by the Mets in the 1st round of the 2008 Draft (22nd overall) out of the University of South Carolina.  Skeptics might be concerned he will never stay healthy.  While he does strikeout at a high rate, I will give Havens the benefit of the doubt due to the lack of consistent at-bats. Overall, I like what I saw from Havens when he was on the field.  That potential is what draws the attention of scouts and the Mets front office staff.  Havens just turned 25, and the clock is ticking very quickly for him.  Should Havens stay healthy, the Mets look like they have their future everyday second-baseman.

The bullpen, which lacked the hard middle-inning throwers that other teams employed, desperately can use reinforcements. Mets relievers combined for a 4.33 ERA and .267 opponent batting average this past season, both ranked 15th in the National League. The Houston Astros were the only team to finish worse, with a 4.49 reliever ERA and .269 opponent batting average. "Of course the bullpen was a big disappointment -- overall and certainly the last two months of the season," Alderson said in the Mets' clubhouse at Citi Field the day after the regular-season finale. "So I think a lot of our success or failure next year is going to be a function of pitching, regardless of who's playing for us. Now that doesn't mean we're going to go spending all of our money on pitching and not try to sign Jose. But I think our fate lies more on the pitching side than anything else  http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7148914/new-york-mets-finding-capable-arms-bullpen-key-amazins

Cutnpaste: Rey Ordonez, Shawn Bowman, Daniel Murphy, Phillip Evans, The String

A brutal offensive player, but his defensive reputation is almost otherworldly. Every scout, manager, or GM who's ever seen him play swears he's the second coming of Ozzie Smith, and some have even been foolhardy enough to claim he's better than the Wizard was. He better be, if he wants to be a major league regular. Twenty years from now they might be calling a .200 average the "Ordonez Line". But if the Mets are willing to use pinch-hitters for him anytime he bats after the sixth inning, he could be a genuinely useful player. The Mets are generally considered to be the worst defensive team of the '90s, but for 1996 they could start an outfield of Everett, Johnson, and Ochoa; an infield of Alfonzo, Ordonez, Kent, and Brogna; and Hundley behind the plate. It wouldn't score many runs, but that defense and Shea Stadium could keep Mets pitchers very happy all season. - http://www.baseballprospectus.com/other/bp1996/mets.html

photo by Mack

How do you negotiate with a dream? Shawn Bowman is navigating that. The 26-year-old third baseman from Port Moody, B.C., has been close enough to the major leagues that you couldn’t help but wonder if he keeps a travel agent on retainer to get his family and friends to a big-league city at a moment’s notice. For instance, he was slotted to be the Atlanta Braves’ triple A third sacker this season. That makes you an understudy to Chipper Jones, and that generally puts you in line for big league at-bats, since it can feel like duct tape is keeping aging Jones together. Read more: link

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photo by Mack

The New York Mets’ 2011 season has been one of pleasant surprises, an unfamiliar feeling for this generation’s fanbase, thanks mostly to a rebuilding state and expectations lower than the Phillies’ team ERA. Daniel Murphy, the lefty hitter from Jacksonville, Florida, stroked his way to a .320 batting average through 109 games before suffering his second MCL injury in two years.  At the time, he was fifth in the league in hitting. As the rebuilding movement in New York evolves completely into Sandy Alderson’s brainchild, the GM has a lot of options and freedom over what to do with Murphy, as he does with the rest of the team.  Here are four of those options, ranging anywhere from realistic to bold. - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/855948-new-york-mets-offseason-what-does-gm-sandy-alderson-do-with-daniel-murphy

9-20-11: - http://www.nctimes.com/sports/article_8da63360-2b6a-58f5-8774-c126796b81d8.html#ixzz1YVtT8erv - Some people join the Navy to see the world. Phillip Evans signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Mets. A 15th-round draft pick by the Mets in June out of La Costa Canyon High, Evans signed hours before the Aug. 15 deadline for what amounted to a bonus typically given to players taken at the bottom of the first round. Evans, a shortstop, started his pro career in the Rookie Gulf Coast League with Port St. Lucie, Fla., played four games and was promoted to Kingsport, Tenn., of the low Rookie Appalachian League and finally to Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League

That the Mets are playing out the string at this point, rather than competing for a playoff spot, is not all that unusual based on recent history. What is out of the ordinary is the fact that they are in the position to play spoiler to other more fortunate teams. The last two seasons, as the Mets came to the end of September, they encountered virtually no opponents whose playoff chances they could damage in any appreciable way. The only exception was when they hosted the wild card-hopeful Braves for three games on September 17-19 last season, and made the least of the opportunity by allowing Atlanta to sweep. - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/9/20/2436699/remembrances-of-spoils-past-part-one

Stock: Mike Nickeas, Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Evans, Mark Cohoon, Reese Havens

8-24-11: - Stock Up: - C Mike Nickeas – Mike was called up today to replace the DL’d Scott Hairtston. Let’s revisit some history on Mike: Nickeas attended college at Georgia Tech. He was selcted in the 5th round of the 2004 draft by Texas. In 2005, He batted .202 (49-242) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 24 RBI in 68 games with Frisco in 2005. He also, hit .286 (6-21) with 1 double, 1 home run and 1 RBI with the rookie-level Arizona Rangers. Nickeas was named the best defensive catcher in the Rangers' organization by Baseball America in 2005. In 2006, Nickeas appeared in 17 games with Bakersfield (A) of the California League this year, batting .297 (19-64) with 6 runs scored, 4 doubles and 6 RBI. Mike missed three weeks of action in May with a pulled hamstring before he was promoted to Frisco (AA) of the Texas League on May 28th. Nickeas hit .248 (28-113) with 15 runs scored, 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 15 RBI with 21 walks and 22 strikeouts in 39 contests with Frisco

8-24-11: - Stock Down – SP Mike Pelfrey – what bothers me is watching the post game press conference and hearing about all the good things Mike Pelfrey did today. Excuse me, but is a 4.50 ERA for the day the best we’re going to get here? I never expected Mike to be an SP1 but I did expect more than this.

8-24-11: - Stock Up – SS Phillip Evans – Yeah I know, Brandon Nimmo hit his first professional home run today and even Eudy Pena went yard, but the start of this game was Evans, going 2-4 and now batting .429. I told you that you were going to like this pick.

8-26-11: - Stock Down – SP Mark Cohoon – Cohoon started again last night for Buffalo and had once of his worst outings of the season. In 1.2-IP, he walked six batters, gave up four earned runs and raised his season ERA to 6.37. It’s been downhill for Mark since he jumped two levels in 2010 (Savannah to Binghamton) and I’m not sure where he goes now. Cohoon’s a finesse pitcher, which just isn’t working at this level.

8-26-11: - Stock Up – 2B Reese Havens – Havens is up to full speed again and he’s smokin’. Last night’s stats: 2-3, 5th home run of the year, three runs scored, a walk and two ribbies. He’s .295 for the year with a .454 slugging percentage. Once again, this is your best second baseman in the organization. Now, all he has to do is stay away from Fernando Martinez.

Cutnpaste: Phillip Evans, Jeff Glenn, Ron Hunt, Jeff Francoeur, Josh Thole

Phillip Evans:


8-17-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/6911/mets-minors/reviewing-the-mets-draft  - Phillip Evans stunned everyone. When the Mets drafted him, he was considered a lock to play college ball at San Diego St. But when you throw supplemental-round money to a 15th-rounder, you make moves. Evans signed for $650k, well over what MLB suggests. He’s a shortstop right now, but the Mets are considering moving him to catcher, which I don’t agree with. We all see how Josh Thole turned out. Don’t mess with what’s not broken, right?


Jeff Glenn:


8-14-11: - http://metsmerizedonline.com/2011/08/kingsport-mets-team-report-stretch-run-edition.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MetsMerizedOnline-GetMetsmerized-NewYorkMets+%28Mets+Merized+Online%29&utm_content=Twitter  - Jeff Glenn - The other half of Kingsport’s catching tandem, along with Cam Maron, Glenn was drafted in the 9th round in the 2009 draft, out of Winter Haven H.S. in Winter Haven, Fla. When Glenn is catching, Maron DH’s, and vice-versa, so they are both getting plenty of AB’s while keeping their legs fresh, a smart move by manager Frank Fultz. Although much taller, at 6’3″, and more athletic behind the plate, than Maron, Glenn’s offensive skills lag behind a bit. After a hot start to the season, Glenn is fading as the stretch run wears on. He is only batting .114 in his last 10 games, but overall his numbers look like: .234 BA, in 128 AB’s, 13 Runs, 30 Hits, 12 2B’s, 3 HR’s 15 RBI’s, .398 SLG, and a 37/12 K/BB ratio. Glenn and Maron should emerge in the next year as catching prospects to watch.


Ron Hunt:


Hunt was a guy who also had a decent twelve-year career as a major leaguer, making two All-Star teams, hitting .273/.368/.347/.715. He didn’t have a lot of power or speed, but as his OBP suggests, he did get on base. His batting average was unremarkable yet strong and he would get his share of walks and HBP, to make him a valued player. He helped re-introduce the HBP as a valid strategy for getting on base. Hunt’s motto was, “Some people give their bodies to science; I give mine to baseball.” He thought it ironic that he started getting plunked mainly when he was a member of the Giants. "Why would you hit me to face Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Jim Ray Hart?" he said to Baseball Digest in 2000. - http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-top-10-career-hit-batters-the-method-to-the-madness  


Jeff Francoeur:


Royals signed OF Jeff Francoeur to a two-year contract extension. Exact terms aren't yet known, but with Dayton Moore at the helm in Kansas City, we had a sinking feeling this was coming. Francoeur, 27, is batting .278/.328/.465 with 15 homers, 66 RBI and 19 stolen bases over 509 plate appearances this season while playing his usual solid defense in right field. That being said, he hasn't made any strides with his plate discipline and his batting average on balls in play has been rather fortunate, so we wouldn't be surprised if he resumed being terrible next season. It's just an odd fit for a franchise with so many young, high-upside talents on the way. - http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/337993/baseball-headlines?r=1  


Josh Thole:


8-18-11: - http://www.metstoday.com/6922/opinion-and-analysis/mets-2011-end-of-season-review  - Josh Thole is a capable receiver. Again he too is at the age where he is what he is and there’s little chance that come 2012, Josh Thole will come to Port St. Lucie performing like Joe Mauer. Accepting that as a reality there are many areas he can improve especially defensively. In fact I have a feeling Terry Collin’s wouldn’t mind one bit if Thole’s learning curve leaned heavily towards improving his defensive skills.

Jordany Valdespin, Phillip Evans, Brian Valenzuela, Mets vs Phillies, Jason Marquis Trade

Jordany Valdespin:


7-26-11: - .amazinavenue.  - IF Jordany Valdespin - STOCK UP - Talk about a pleasant surprise. I was higher than most on Valdespin this winter and I still only just barely had him in the top 30. All he's done is go out and confirm that he may have the most dynamic all-around package of tools in the entire system and what's more, he's beginning to capitalize on all of them. I don't know what's a bigger surprise, the fact that a guy with a career high of six homers has already reached 15 or the fact that he's already matched his sb total from the last two seasons combined. He's even batting .280 against lefties. And he's always been more about tools than skills but he's even improved his walk rate, from around 1.5% up to 5%, which isn't great but the percentage increase is excellent. He still has a lot of rawness to his game (see: 28 errors) but he's turning a lot of it into production and if this continues expect to hear his name as a serious contender for a future starting MI role.


Phillip Evans:


7-30-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6082  - Phillip Evans (2011 SS, San Diego Show)- The 23rd ranked player in the PG Class of 2011 player rankings slipped all the way to the 15th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Most of the time, players with the type of talent that Evans possesses slip this far due to large signing bonus demands. If that is in fact the case, Evans’ performance in Marietta will make it very difficult for the New York Mets to let Evans walk away and spend the next three years at San Diego State. Evans hit .409 with 7 RBIs and a pair of stolen bases for the Show. But more importantly, his defensive play at Shortstop was nothing short of spectacular as he led the Show to the 18u title, earning tournament MVP honors.


Brian Valenzuela:


7-30-11 via twitter: - bvlefty brian valenzuela - Broke a finger in My last outing on a line drive hit back at me. Out for a couple weeks at the least. Shitty luck if you ask me.


Mets vs. Phillies:


http://www.patrickfloodblog.com/2011/07/30/and-the-window-begins-to-open  - The 2013 season doesn’t start for 21 months, and a lot of things can happen between then and now. There’s a lot of crystal-ball gazing here, and the Phillies are certainly in good shape this season — selling plenty of tickets is a good method to ensure things continue to go your way. Also, the Braves look to be in good shape, especially with Heyward, Freeman, and all their young pitching. But the future is certainly starting to look better for the Mets, who, by the way, are on an 84 win pace this season with a bad pitching staff and a Reyes-Beltran-and-the-scrubs offense. The Hunter Pence trade helps the Phillies, who are running away with the division in 2011, right now. But 2012 and 2013 are still very much up for grabs, and things slowly seem to be tipping towards the Mets. They certainly have been this week.


Jason Marquis Trade:


Per twitter - JimBowden/ESPNxm JIM BOWDEN - by AdamRubinESPN - It is confirmed that Jason Marquis has been traded from the Washington Nationals to the Arizona Diamondbacks.for Zach Walters SS – great trade by Washington… they aren’t going anywhere and they especially aren’t going anywhere with Marquis. Walters is a prime IF prospect who fits in perfect with the team they are building for the future.

Mike Hebert, Jose Reyes, Phillip Evans, Jon Matlack, Albert Cordero

Mike Hebert:


7-10-11: - Hebert pitched a gem yesterday for the GCL Mets, going 6.0-IP, 0-R, 1-H, 6-K in their 1-0 nightcap win against the Cardinals. This is Hebert’s fourth year in the Mets organization and, frankly, he’s back with GCL where everything started in 2008. Mike was a 7th rounder in 2008, staright out of high school. Assorted injuries and other matters have kept him bouncing around the lower levels and I had hoped to see him pitch Savannah this season. He’s still only 20-years old.


Jose Reyes:


Still, there is a difference between having the ability to re-sign Jose Reyes at that price and deciding Reyes is worth that price. If however, the Wilpons don't even have the ability to afford Reyes beyond 2012 - and with a revenue generator like SportsNet New York, the largest media market in the world, and a loyal fan base the Wilpons should be able to give Sandy Alderson $150 million and full autonomy to make these decisions - they need to sell the franchise. Mets fan deserve at least that much. Though, being realistic, the Wilpons have made it overtly clear that they will not sell the team unless their hand is forced. So while the Mets should have the ability to re-sign their irreplaceable shortstop, Sandy Alderson needs to know if resigning Reyes is a viable option. - If it isn't, Reyes needs to go - http://bullpenbanter.com/



Phillip Evans:


7-8-11: - At the just completed 18u WWBA National Championship… SS Phillip Evans (2011 La Costa Canyon HS, Carlsbad, CA) earned tournament MVP honors after going 9-for-22 (.409/.458/.500) with 7 RBIs and 3 SBs .

Jon Matlack:


For Matlack, it represented a great moment in a Mets career that was otherwise far too short. Like Seaver, Matlack eventually fell out of favor with management after repeatedly -- and accurately -- criticizing the organization's unwillingness to acquire offense through free agency. So after six seasons, with a career 3.00 ERA and an 82-81 record, the winter before Matlack was due to jump in salary, he was dealt to the Rangers -- by GM Joe Torre no less -- in a four-team deal that netted the Mets back Willie Montanez and Tom Grieve. So basically next to nothing. The next year Matlack would go on to have the best season of his career, winning 15 games and posting a 2.27 ERA in 270 IP. Go Mets! - http://www.amazinavenue.com/2011/7/10/2268259/the-1975-asg-or-how-jon-matlack-won-the-mets-lone-asg-mvp  


Albert Cordero:


7-10-11: - http://scoutingthesally.com/sally-stock-watch-cordero-may-ramirez-saladino  - Albert Cordero, C, New York Mets – In my STS’s Best piece on catchers, Cordero was listed as a catching prospect to watch along with San Francisco Giants backstop Hector Sanchez. And while Sanchez has hit the fast track all the way to triple-A, Cordero has essentially flopped in Savannah posting a .246/.284/.329 triple slash line. During the 2011 season, I’ve spoken to multiple scouts who simply don’t view him as a prospect. However, with a 5-5 night on July 8th including a pair of doubles and a triple, maybe Cordero can parlay a career night into a strong second half and regain a bit of the prospect status I once perceived him to have.